Avs and Wild mirror each other with star power, elite defensemen and veterans trying to win 1st Cup

Rested against tested

The Wild enter the series after a bruising series with the Stars and the Avalanche are rested after a week off. The high-scoring Avalanche proved they could play any sort of style, too, with a pair of 2-1 wins — including one in OT — against the Kings. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Avs don't mind being the Cup favorites. “It doesn't really mean nothing unless you're the last team standing,” forward Nazem Kadri said. “We're going to have to be ready for everything they throw at us.” The break gave Colorado a chance to heal up. Defenseman Josh Manson is dealing with an upper-body injury. The Wild are banged up, too, with forward Joel Eriksson Ek questionable because of a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) didn't make the trip.

Norris Trophy winners

Makar and Hughes are the last two winners of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. Makar is coming off a regular season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists. He has scored goals in each of the last two playoff games. Hughes was acquired as part of a deal with Vancouver on Dec. 12. He finished with five goals and 48 assists with Minnesota in the regular season while averaging nearly 28 minutes a games on the ice. That's up to 31:40 in the postseason. Hughes had two goals and an assist in the series clincher. “It’s no surprise," teammate Brock Faber said. "Big-time players step up in big-time games, and that is what he did."

Golden moment

For Team USA, this is almost a reunion. Brock Nelson, Hughes, Faber and Matt Boldy helped the Americans to a 2-1 overtime win over Canada for their first Olympic gold medal in 46 years. Wild coach John Hynes was on the coaching staff and general manager Bill Guerin helped assemble the team. Canada featured Avalanche defensemen Devon Toews and Makar, along with MacKinnon. “Something we will remember forever,” Nelson said. “But now put friendships on pause.”

Flashback to 2015

The Wild are 5-14 in their 25-year history in playoff series. They’ve made it past the second round only once (2003). Their win over the Stars marked the first time they've been out of the first round since 2015. Faber, who is from Maple Grove, Minnesota, was nearly 12 at the time. “I don’t remember it,” Faber said. “We write our own story. Every team has their own story. Every team has their own ups and downs.”

The Burns effect

Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns is chasing his first Stanley Cup title at 41 years old and in his 22nd NHL season. He began his career with the Wild, who made him the 20th pick of the 2003 draft. Burns played in Minnesota from 2003-04 to '10-11. “That’s a long time ago,” Makar said with a smile. \\\_ AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell in Minnesota contributed to this report. \\\_ AP NHL playoffs: and